The Money Talk Every Couple Needs Before Marriage
Before you say “I do,” there are some important financial questions to ask before marriage and avoiding them now can lead to painful surprises later.
In this episode, I’m joined by my husband, Zane, to talk through the money conversation every engaged or newly married couple needs to have. After nearly 39 years of marriage and years of counseling couples together, we’ve seen how deeply money can affect trust, unity, peace, and even the spiritual health of a marriage.
We’re getting honest about debt, separate vs. shared accounts, financial transparency, saving, investing, and the money stories we each bring from childhood. We also share what worked for us, what we learned the hard way, and why Zane believes living on less than you earn is one of the most important financial habits a couple can build.
Whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, or simply ready to have a healthier conversation about money with your spouse, I think this episode will give you plenty to talk about together!
What to Expect in This Episode:
- Why you’re not only marrying a person, you’re also marrying their financial habits
- The financial questions every couple should answer before getting married
- Why full honesty about credit, debt, spending, income, and family obligations is essential to financial intimacy
- “Our money” vs. “my money”: how couples’ shared accounts work differently than separate business accounts
- Why living on less than you earn is the financial principle Zane considers non-negotiable
- How to decide together which expenses are essentials and which are luxuries
- Why saving early matters so much and how compound growth rewards time
- The importance of contributing to a workplace retirement plan and taking advantage of an employer match when available
- How each spouse’s upbringing can shape fear, security, expectations, and conflict around money
- Why couples need to define what “enough” means before the pursuit of more becomes endless
Links & Resources
- Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins
- Investor.gov Compound Interest Calculator
- IRS Information About 401(k) Plans
- IRS Information About Roth IRAs
- Official Trump Accounts Information
Where to Listen
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